Display device

ABSTRACT

Structure for displaying stacked merchandise including a shelf or separator of more or less rigidized material which is flexibly hinged by a unique spring to a back panel in such a way that the shelf or separator will stabilize the layers of merchandise vertically stacked upon each other. The shelf or separator will by virtue of the flexible spring hinge, automatically arc toward a vertical position on a variable axis when all merchandise is removed from its upper surface.

i Unite States Patent 3,631,820

[72] Inventor Russell E. Taber [56] References Cited Dogwood Valley Drive N.W., Atlanta, Ga. 30305 [21] Appl' No 844,425 2,950,820 8/1960 Shiels 108/2 3,054,608 9/1962 Paua 16/150 X [22] Filed July 24, 1969 [45] Patented Jam 4 1972 3,099,354 7/1963 0 Day 211/49 R 3,161,158 12/1964 Lurey 108/59X 3,182,806 5/1965 Lambert 211/49 X Primary Examiner-Paul R. Gilliam Attorney-Melville, Strasser, Foster & Hoffman [54] DISPLAY DEVICE 8 Chums 7 Drawmg ABSTRACT: Structure for displaying stacked merchandise in- [52] us. C1 108/2, eluding a helf or separator of more or less rigidized material 108/ 134, 211/49, 16/150, 16/180 which is flexibly hinged by a unique spring to a back panel in [51] Int. Cl A471 5/12, such a way that the shelf or separator will stabilize the layers A471 7/00, EOSf 1/ 12 of merchandise vertically stacked upon each other. The shelf [50] Field of Search 108/128, or separator will by virtue of the flexible spring hinge, auto- 134, 135,59, 2; 16/150, 180;2l1/49, 74,93, 148; matically arc toward a vertical position on a variable axis 267/154, 156 when all merchandise is removed from its upper surface.

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SHEET 1 [IF 2 m m w m m u lNVENTOR/S FIG 4 RUSSELL E. TABER ATTORNEYS SHEET 2 [IF 2 F/Gi6 0@ o 0 0 f: n 0

INVENTORS RUSSELL E. TABER PATENTEDJAN 4x972 FIG.7

DISPLAY DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The art of retail merchandizing in supermarkets and the like has advanced rapidly in the last decade. A number of principles for successful merchandizing have emerged. First of all, it is now known that a merchandise display must utilize available space efficiently. That is, it must accommodate as large a quantity of the product as is possible in order to minimizing stocking time.

Secondly, the display device must remain productive as the product is removed. That is, the design must be such that the remaining product is always readily visible and available to the customer.

In addition, it is desirable that the display be readily adjustable to accommodate differing sizes of products without time consuming or expensive modification.

Generally speaking, there are two well-known types of devices which have achieved wide-spread commercial success. The first is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,852,143 entitled Display Device, in the name of Russell E. Taber. The second is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,637,445 entitled Display Rack for Bottled Goods, in the name of Lawrence W. Patterson.

The last-mentioned patent contemplates a structure including a back panel to which are hinged a number of shelving units. As merchandise is removed from a given shelf, the empty shelf is spring urged to a vertical position against the back panel. The arrangement is such that a given shelf does not carry the full weight of the product stacked upon it; that is, any given shelf rests upon the merchandise below it, so that the shelf itself actually performs more of a stabilizing function than a load carrying function. The deficiency of the device according to this patent is that the pivot point between the shelf member and the back must be precisely located with respect to the merchandise carried by the display device. In addition, variations in size of the device call for variations in spring strengths, etc.

The device of the Taber patent noted above is more versatile and readily utilized with a wide range of packaged merchandise. Again, the self-recoiling shelving of the Taber device does not actually perform a load carrying function, but simply acts as a separator or stabilizer between vertical tiers of stacked merchandise.

While devices according to the foregoing patent have each achieved commercial success, their use to date has largely been limited to the display of soft drinks and the like. The instant invention has for its primary object the provision of a display device which will accommodate a much wider range of packages than is possible with the devices according to the foregoing art, and yet will retain the advantages of these devices in accordance with the foregoing outline.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In its broadest scope, this invention contemplates a display device utilizing a more or less vertical back panel to which is flexibly hinged one or more shelf or separator elements. The shelf or separator element itself may be of a sernirigid material. More specifically, it should be more rigid than the flexible, self-recoiling shelving of the foregoing Taber patent, and yet less rigid than the wire shelving of the Patterson patent.

The flexible hinge between the shelf or separator elements and the back panel involves a spring member so arranged that the shelf, when set in a horizontal plane, can be moved vertically a sufficient distance to accommodate a wide range of product sizes. At the same time, the spring action of the flexible hinge will cause the shelf or separator element to arc toward a vertical position when the merchandise on its upper surface is removed along a variable axis.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a back panel and two shelfelements flexibly hinged thereto.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the flexible hinge itself prior to installation.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the flexible hinge attached to the shelf element but prior to attachment to the back panel.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing another way of mounting the hinge element to the back panel.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a modified form of the shelf element.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view similar to FIG. I, showing a back panel and two flexible shelf elements secured thereto, illustrating a modified form of both the hinge element and the shelf element.

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, illustrating yet another aspect of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring first to FIG. 1, a portion of a display device according to this invention have been shown in perspective. Generally considered, the device includes the back panel indicated generally at 10, a plurality of lightweight shelf elements l2, and a flexible, hinge spring structure indicated generally at 14 securing each of the shelf elements to the back panel. It will be clearly apparent in FIG. 1 that each of the shelf elements 12 is pivotal from a generally horizontal position to a generally vertical position wherein it lies substantially parallel to the back panel 10.

In the embodiment shown, the back panel 10 is indicated as a piece of pegboard. It will of course be understood that the back structure may be provided with slotted channels or the like (see FIG. 4) or could even be defined by a store wall or end wall of another display cabinet.

The shelf elements 12 are lightweight and might well be described as semiflexible. As indicated earlier, these shelf elements do not fully perform a load carrying function. Rather they in effect provide a separator between vertically stacked layers of merchandise and it has been found that such separators are extremely effective in stabilizing such stacked displays.

As seen in FIGS. 1 through 4, the shelf elements 12 are each a substantially flat, rectangular layer of material, such as plastic, cardboard, light metal, or the like. Where further rigidity is required, the shelf elements can readily be modified as described hereinafter.

The hinge structure indicated generally at 14 is shown before assembly in FIG. 2. According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the hinge is formed by a tubular, selfrecoiling coil. Such a coil may be heat formed from polyester film according to the teachings of U.S. Pat. No. 3,426,115 in the name of R. E. Taber and entitled Method of Making a Self- Coiling Sheet.

According to this embodiment of the invention, the substantially rigid strip 16 is utilized with fasteners 18 to secure one edge of the self-recoiling coil to the back panel 10. It will be observed that it is the inner surface of the coil which is adjacent and in contact with the back panel. This structure is effective to place that end portion of the coil under tension.

Similarly, it will be observed that the coil is also attached to the rear edge of the shelf element 12 by the fasteners 20. As best seen in FIG. 3, the fasteners 20 are closely adjacent the rear edge of the shelf element 12. However, it is very important that a portion of the coil overlap the undersurface of the shelf element 12. Thus, the fasteners 20 pass through the coil material some distance from the outer or free edge.

This positioning of the means securing the shelf element to the coil is very important. It will be observed that this fastening is effective to place a portion of the coil under tension. Specifically, the tension of the coil between the fastener 20 and the outer free edge of the coil will tend to pivot the shelf about the fasteners 20. This permits the hinge structure to gain sufficient leverage to lift the front edge of the shelf element 12.

In addition, it will be recalled that the inner surface of the coil was secured to the back panel, putting the portion of the coil between the rear edge of the shelf element 12 and the back panel under tension. Thus, when all of the merchandise is removed from any given shelf element 12, the shelf will be pivoted upwardly by what might be termed a double action to the position shown in the upper portion of FIG. I.

FIG. 4 illustrates a modification of the strip 16. According to this modification, the strip 16' is formed with the ears l6" to fit in a conventional slotted channel. Thus, vertical adjustability of the point at which the edge of the coil is secured to the back panel is readily achieved.

FIG. illustrates an exemplary way in which the lightweight shelf element 12 may be made more rigid. According to this embodiment, the shelf element 22 is formed with the depend ing, rolled edges 24.

Turning now to FIG. 6, several further modifications of the invention are disclosed. According to this embodiment, the hinge structure indicated generally at 14 again comprises a self-recoiling coil. However, according to this embodiment, the axis of the coil is perpendicular to the edge of the coil secured to the back panel 10.

Specifically, referring to the upper portion of FIG. 6, the self-recoiling coil is indicated at 26. Its edge 28 is secured to the back panel by the rigid strip 30 to be described presently. The coiling axis of the sheet 26 is perpendicular to the edge 28. Thus, the seIf-recoiling tendency of the member 26 tends to impart a slight curve to the shelf element 32 as shown.

This added curvature to the shelf element 32 has been found to be very desirable, in that it greatly increases the rigidity of the shelf element without substantially affecting its weight. That is, a 7 to 14 mil flexible sheet has been found satisfactory for almost any commercial product of the type under consideration.

It will therefore be apparent that the pivoting action of the shelf element 32 from the position shown in the bottom of FIG. 6 to the position shown at the top of FIG. 6 contemplates bending of the member 26 along its coiling axis.

The rigid strip 30 seen in FIG. 6 is provided with the projections 34 of a configuration to engage in the openings of the standard pegboard forming the back panel 10. The edge 28 of the coil 26 is provided with parallel slots defining a tongue 36 therebetween. The strip 30 is inserted between the tongue 36 and the remainder of the edge 28. This center tongue 36 is effective to maintain the rigid strip 30 against the pegboard 10.

It will of course be understood that in use, the shelf element 32 will be flattened when loaded between layers of merchandise.

The coil for this embodiment of the invention should preferably be heat formed to a relaxed radius of on the order of one-half inch. This rather small radius is necessary in order to impart the curvature to the shelf element 32. In the embodiment shown, the coil 26 has been cut to a trapezoidal configuration, but this, of course, is not limitation on the invention.

The foregoing description contemplates that the back panel 10 of the display device be generally vertical. For many uses, a true vertical plane is both acceptable and desirable. However, for some applications, particularly in the case of bottles or the like wherein the top is substantially smaller than the bottom surface of the merchandise, it is desirable to provide a set back for the upper layers of stacked merchandise. This can readily be accomplished as shown in FIG. 7 wherein the back panel 10 is titled rearwardly with respect to the base 38 by approximately 3. Thus, it will be seen that each of the bottles 40 is spaced rearwardly of the corresponding bottle 42 on the layer below. This automatic set back provides for increased stability for merchandise of this kind.

It is believed that the foregoing constitutes a full and complete disclosure of this invention.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privile e is claimed are defined as follows:

I. In a display evlce for stacked merchandise including a back panel and at least one shelf element hingedly secured to said back panel; the improved hinge structure comprising:

a. a tubular self-recoiling coil;

b. first securing means fastening one edge of said coil to said back panel with at least a portion of the inner surface of said coil against said back panel whereby to place a portion of said coil adjacent said first securing means under tension effective normally to bias the remainder of said coil against said back panel; and

c. second securing means spaced from said first securing means for fastening a portion of the remainder of said coil to the rear edge of said shelf element, whereby said shelf element is normally biased by said portion of said coil under tension to a position against said back panel and is movable against said bias to a generally horizontal position, the portion of said coil intermediate said first and second securing means permitting the horizontal position of said shelf element to be varied with respect to said back panel.

2. The hinge structure claimed in claim 1 wherein the coiling axis of said tubular coil is parallel to the plane of said back panel.

3. The hinge structure claimed in claim 1 wherein the coiling axis of said coil is substantially normal to the edge of said coil secured to said back panel.

4. The hinge structure claimed in claim 1 wherein said first securing means fastening said one edge of said coil to said back panel comprises a substantially rigid strip of material, and means for securing said strip of material to bothsaid coil and to said back panel.

5. The display device claimed in claim 4 wherein said means for securing said strip of material to said coil comprises a pair of parallel slots defining therebetween a tongue in said one edge of said coil, said tongue being disposed on the opposite side of said rigid strip from the remainder of said coil.

6. The hinge structure claimed in claim 1 wherein said back panel is substantially vertical.

7. The hinge structure claimed in claim 1 wherein said back panel is tilted rearwardly, whereby to provide an automatic setback for vertically arranged layers of merchandise.

8. The hinge structure claimed in claim 1 wherein said second securing means fastening said coil to said rear edge of said shelf element is spaced from the outer free edge of said coil whereby to place another portion of said coil under tension.

* t i k 

1. In a display device for stacked merchandise including a back panel and at least one shelf element hingedly secured to said back panel; the improved hinge structure comprising: a. a tubular self-recoiling coil; b. first securing means fastening one edge of said coil to said back panel with at least a portion of the inner surface of said coil against said back panel whereby to place a portion of said coil adjacent said first securing means under tension effective normally to bias the remainder of said coil against said back panel; and c. second securing means spaced from said first securing means for fastening a portion of the remainder of said coil to the rear edge of said shelf element, whereby said shelf element is normally biased by said portion of said coil under tension to a position against said back panel and is movable against said bias to a generally horizontal position, the portion of said coil intermediate said first and second securing means permitting the horizontal position of said shelf element to be varied with respect to said back panel.
 2. The hinge structure claimed in claim 1 wherein the coiling axis of said tubular coil is parallel to the plane of said back panel.
 3. The hinge structure claimed in claim 1 wherein the coiling axis of said coil is substantially normal to the edge of said coil secured to said back panel.
 4. The hinge structure claimed in claim 1 wherein said first securing means fastening said one edge of said coil to said back panel comprises a substantially rigid strip of material, and means for securing said strip of material to both said coil and to said back panel.
 5. The display device claimed in claim 4 wherein said means for securing said strip of material to said coil comprises a pair of parallel slots defining therebetween a tongue in said one edge of said coil, said tongue being disposed on the opposite side of said rigid strip from the remainder of said coil.
 6. The hinge structure claimed in claim 1 wherein said back panel is substantially vertical.
 7. The hinge structure claimed in claim 1 wherein said back panel is tilted rearwardly, whereby to provide an automatic setback for vertically arranged layers of merchandise.
 8. The hinge structure claimed in claim 1 wherein said second securing means fastening said coil to said rear edge of said shelf element is spaced from the outer free edge of said coil whereby to place another portion of said coil under tension. 